Monday, April 04, 2005

"Last year, with Iraqi leaders deadlocked over the impending assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, Hajim al-Hassani ignored Sunni criticism and supported the United States. On Sunday, the Iraqi industry minister and Arab Sunni stepped forward again, agreeing to take the job as Iraq's parliament speaker after weeks of bickering over who would fill the job."

"Al-Hassani's own ties to Iraq are marginal and claim that he has little clout to persuade Sunni communities to resist the insurgency. Al-Hassani lived much of his adult life in the United States."